Halloween Traditions Around the World

October 29, 2013

Many people might wonder where on earth Halloween originated?
While it is very popular in Canada and the US with estimates
stating that 65% of Americans decorate for Halloween and more candy
is sold on Halloween than on any other US holiday, it is less
popular around the world but is growing in its newer commercialized
form. Today's tradition of going out for candy, or
"trick-or-treating", is believed to have begun much more recently,
maybe in the 1950's. Children would dress up in costumes and roam
the neighborhoods and demand people give them candy or else suffer
the fate of some form of tricks be played on them.

Today, many countries have adapted Halloween as their own and/or
have similar traditions within their own cultures. This seemingly
North American centric tradition actually started in Ireland. Check
out this video on the origins of Halloween:

In Argentina, we, like many countries, have started
to celebrate Halloween with kids' parties and costumes and candy.
In China, the Halloween-like festival is called as Teng Chieh where food and water are put out
with photographs of family members who have died. There are also
some who build bonfires and lanterns in order to light the paths of
the spirits as they travel the earth on Halloween night.

Among many Spanish-speaking nations, mainly Mexico and
Aztec-influenced Latin America, Halloween has been merged into an
ancient tradition which is known as "El Dia de los Muertos" or "The
day of the dead". This is a three-day celebration that begins on
the evening of October 31 and ends November 2. Established to honor
the dead who are believed to return to their homes on Halloween,
many families make an altar in their home and decorate it with
candy, flowers, photographs and water, and sometimes even placing
out samples of the deceased's favorite foods and drinks.

To learn more about Halloween and Halloween-like
traditions around the world, see:

Further Information on Localization Resources

For more information or help with your next website translation
project, please do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail at info@globalizationpartners.com,
or by phone at (866) 272-5874, or by requesting a free web translation
quote for your next website translation project.

Comments

Natalie Veis Williams - Global Digital Marketing ManagerNatalie was born and raised in the state of Montana, USA where she graduated from The University of Montana with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration. Her international experience includes two summer programs, one at The European Business School in Germany and the other at The University of Brescia in Italy. She studied a variety of global business subjects including international business, trade, culture and language. Key projects for her undergrad studies included meeting with executives from large corporations such as Lufthansa, Opel, and The European Central Bank as well as working with the design team on the marketing plan for the 2015 World Fair in Milan, Italy. She has a range of global event management experience including organization of the Annual Mansfield Conference on the Middle East and the China Town Hall meeting series. Her hobbies include yoga, cooking, reading, being outdoors and traveling.